R87.7m more for A-Darter

The South African Air Force has awarded Denel a further R87.7 million order for the development of the Denel Dynamics A-Darter 5th generation short-range air-to-air missile, taking the known amount spent to date to over R1 billion.

The work follows on a R8 million contract to conduct a scope of work, optimisation, and risk reduction study for the integration of the A-Darter onto the BAE Systems Hawk Mk120 lead-in fighter trainer and to complete a provisional definition for Project Kamas.

Also awarded this last month was a further R1 333 792.40 to prepare A-Darter CFE Data and hardware items for integration onto the Saab Gripen advanced fighter. In addition, EOH Abantu subsidiary Highveld PFS was awarded a R560 000 contract to provide staff support for the SAAF’s procurement of the missile system, under development by Denel Dynamics in a joint South African-Brazilian programme with a R1 billion budget.

Denel Dynamics CE Jan Wessels last year April told defenceWeb the weapon, under development since March 2007 was on track and on target for delivery to the SAAF and the Brazilian Air Force from early 2013, now two years away. Wessels added training missiles will be delivered from net year. The SAAF is to fit the missile to its fleet of 24 workhorse BAE Systems Hawk Mk120 lead-in fighter trainers in addition to integrating it on to the 26 more sophisticated Saab Gripen C and D advanced lightweight fighter. Brazil wants the weapon for its FX-2 future fighter programme.

According to the Armscor Bulletin System, South Africa has to date spent at least R1 048 648 321.44 on the programme, Project Assegaai. This includes R973 965 663.29 spent on development and R64 709 038.43 on preparing the missile for integration onto the Gripen.